The perfect starter pack if you want to: I want to start oil painting
Primary Gear - $32
Student-grade oil paints that are genuinely excellent. Includes the essential colors you need to mix anything.
Why: Winton is the go-to student line — good enough to learn everything, cheap enough that you won't cry wasting paint while learning to mix colors.
Essential Accessory - $22
Pre-primed cotton canvas panels in three sizes. Flat panels are easier for beginners than stretched canvas.
Why: Start on panels, not stretched canvas. They're cheaper, easier to store, and you won't feel bad experimenting on a $2 surface.
Essential Accessory - $25
Mixed set of filbert, flat, and round brushes in multiple sizes. Synthetic bristles that work beautifully with oils.
Why: Filbert brushes are the workhorse of oil painting. This set covers every stroke type you'll need for your first year of painting.
Must-Read Book - $24
The definitive guide to understanding how light and color work in painting. Used by concept artists, illustrators, and fine artists worldwide.
Why: This book will teach you more about seeing color than any class. Gurney breaks down complex optics into practical painting advice with gorgeous illustrations.
Pro Tip - $10
The safest solvent for oil painting — odorless, low toxicity, and effective for thinning paint and cleaning brushes.
Why: Never use turpentine indoors. Gamsol is what professional artists use — it works just as well without the headache and health risks.
The Fun One - $85
Everything you need to follow along with Bob Ross episodes — his specific paints, brushes, and palette knife.
Why: Following a Bob Ross episode is genuinely the most fun first painting experience. You'll finish with a complete landscape painting in 30 minutes and feel like a genius.